It’s nearly a rite of passage for geeks to research the parts of a computer, gather them together, and assemble them in a case to build one’s own PC. But more and more people are opting not to do it due to widespread misinformation and fears.

Building a PC doesn’t require you to be an engineer, let alone a rocket scientist. Anyone with a screwdriver can assemble a desktop computer from scratch in under an hour. It’s surprisingly simple, so it’s time to bust some of these silly myths that keep circulating.

Can they break? Yes, but it’s actually pretty difficult to do that. So first above all, don’t panic, computer parts are sturdier than you think.

Just make sure you have a dedicated flat space to build your computer and you’ll be able to get through the procedure without any major problems. Handle every part with a modicum of care and it won’t break.

Static charge is a real risk, but it’s similarly blown a bit out of proportion. If you want to be on the safe side, just make sure you’re grounding yourself every time you touch a component. That’s as simple as holding a wooden desk with one hand while the other puts parts in.

If you’re a first-timer, I recommend building the PC on the floor to reduce the risk of dropping parts from a great height.

2. “You Need Special Equipment to Build”

Anyone who says that you need a specialized toolkit to build a computer is flat out lying. You want to know what kind of equipment you need? A single magnetic tip screwdriver. Yup, that’s all.

I recommend a magnetic tip screwdriver instead of a regular one because the screws can fall out at times. Don’t worry, the magnets aren’t strong enough to affect any of the computer parts, so you won’t damage anything.

Apart from a screwdriver, you won’t need a single other piece of equipment. You can buy some cable binders or a static wrist band, but that’s often unnecessary. Most motherboards and cabinets these days ship with a few cable binders in them, and as long as you are grounding yourself, the static wrist band is redundant.

The biggest difference between today and the past, though, is that you have a smartphone. Forget the manual that came with your components and just search YouTube for how to install the various parts, or how to build a PC in general.

Truthfully, it’s simpler than you can imagine.

Motherboards, cases, and other components have been standardized now, so no matter which model you buy, they’re comprised of the same basics. So even if a YouTube video doesn’t match your exact model, the process of installing it will be the same.

Insert the hard drive into the bay slot and connect it to the motherboard.

(Optional) Insert the DVD or Blu-ray drive into the top bay and connect it to the motherboard.

(Optional) Insert the graphics card into the motherboard and screw it in.

Close the case and connect the external wires, like monitor, power cable, keyboard, and mouse.

Start it up!

It’s like LEGO for adults. The wire slots are color-coded (e.g. red for SATA cables) and there are different colored pins for the case. Similarly, the cable slots on the back are color-coded too.

It’s difficult to explain in text, but once you see your motherboard and the parts around your desk, you can tap into your inner child who fitted plastic blocks into the right slots.

5. “Buying Compatible Parts Is Difficult”

Yes, compatibility does matter in a PC. You can’t use an Intel motherboard with an AMD processor, for example, or put a DDR3 RAM stick into a DDR2 slot. You may also need a certain capacity PSU to provide enough power to the other components.

That sounds complex but it isn’t. In fact, buying compatible parts is pretty straightforward these days.

And in case you have any trouble, ask anything at Reddit’s r/BuildaPC community or the folks at Tom’s Hardware forums. Both communities are full of knowledgeable commenters who will correctly guide you.

Also, barebones mini PCsWhat's the Best Mini PC?What's the Best Mini PC?Want a smaller computer? Check out the mini-PC. Recent technological advancements have made computers smaller than ever before. And they're slowly replacing old-fashioned desktops. We've got 10 of the best models.Read More are excellent for basic users. If you aren’t going to need a dedicated graphics card — and Intel’s new onboard graphics make it redundant for basic users — then buy a barebones PC and add your own RAM and hard drive. It’ll be cheaper, smaller, quieter, and you still get to customize things to your own needs.

Build One and You Will Prosper

So go ahead, build your own PC without stressing yourself out. It’s not a complicated and difficult process, and we hope that this article has broken the myths surrounding the process, and encouraged you to try it out instead of being daunted by it.

What other fears and apprehensions do you have about building your own computer? Which myths have you busted for friends? Did we get anything wrong? Let’s talk in the comments.

I say this without hyperbole: 10 years ago, I taught a room full of developmentally disabled teenagers to put a PC together as part of a state-sponsored worker training program. No one broke anything. Everything worked. If they can do it, I think anyone can handle it.

Big reasons to build a desktop

Storage configuration:
PCs sold in stores still treat SSDs like they're some kind of exotic material that no one should have access to, but in truth a generous 480GB drive costs about $120 as of this writing. Or if you'd like to add an internal drive for backups, there's no better time than when you're putting the machine together.

Standard parts.
I'm surprised whenever I open a name brand desktop and find something bizarre inside, like HP shipping MicroATX tower-size machines with what amount to laptop-style internal parts and absolutely no internal expansion. I can't believe that kind of thing still happens. The people who get stuck with that kind of PC can't even really do anything about it except pawn it off on some other sucker.

Having the OS/Software load you want
No surprise. Name-brand machines are filled to the brim with extra crap. Install Windows (or Linux, or OSX, even) and set it up the way you want. It'll be right for you the first time. Sure, you can remove the junk after the fact, but it's easier to just do it right in the first place.

If you are going to use Windows, the biggest problem is the cost of $100-200 to buy a copy of Windows, and if you buy Windows 7 it will try to upgrade you. If you go the OEM route, as I did on one build, I suddenly got a "this copy of windows is not genuine" a year later & the machine locked.

Windows isn't worth $100+ when you can buy a refurb with windows for under $200 total. For building a Linux box, sure.